Get IN. with Nate Spangle

On today's show I sat down with John Wortman, co-founder and CEO of Valeo Financial Advisors, a firm founded in 2003 that has grown to over 100 certified financial planners managing over $12 billion. Wortman traces his early interest in markets from Evansville, explains disillusionment with cold-calling brokerage sales, and describes learning comprehensive financial planning at Oxford before leaving, paying a non-compete, and being sued at age 27 as Valeo launched into the dot-com bust and the 2008 crisis. He emphasizes transparent fees, limiting client loads, and building talent through an apprenticeship model. Our conversation also covers innovation and AI-enabled product building, Valeo's "GIVE" program, involvement with Brackets for Good and Gleaners Food Bank, and why Indiana's family ties and community keep him rooted. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Markets in the 2000s vs. Now - Valeo's Founding and Growth Over the Last 20+ Years - Brackets for Good and "GIVE" Program Thank you to our partners: Hope Plumbing Indy Grills Check out these great clips from the show: 01:30 Guest Introduction: John Wortman, Valeo Financial Advisors 02:18 Evansville Origins 04:44 First Stock Obsession 05:37 Markets Then and Now 06:39 Cold Calling Reality 10:11 Advisor Value Test 13:30 Oxford Lessons 14:31 Radical Fee Transparency 15:35 Apprentice Model Culture 16:43 Noncompete Lawsuit 18:22 Imposter Syndrome Advice 20:32 Networking Deflections 21:39 Early Valeo Hustle 28:00 Leadership Listening 30:33 Brackets For Good Story 33:01 "GIVE" Program Generosity 34:33 Gleaners Food Network 37:41 Choosing Gleaners Impact 39:16 Authentic Giving Networks 42:21 Volunteering Over Taxes 44:01 Valeo Traction Intern Wall 47:29 AI Dreaming Innovation 50:10 Career Vines Founder Drive 53:42 Next Decade Vision 59:20 Evansville Weekend Pitch 01:01:12 Why Indiana Home 01:02:09 Rapid Fire Reflections 01:06:40 Indiana Real Estate Talent Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

Abbey Robertson, co-founder and principal designer at aaNovo who leads client-driven 3D design, and A.J. Robertson, co-founder who moved from tech to finish carpentry and preservation. They talk about shifting from flips to full renovations, balancing historic preservation with new builds, using 3D renders and AI for design, building-science for healthy homes, and practical, budget-first planning tips.

FrancesMary “FM” Loughead, founder of BFF Indy who built a near-20,000‑member women’s community after moving to Indianapolis. She recounts starting with Bachelorette watch parties and expanding into speed-friending, weekly walks, book swaps and intergenerational events. The conversation covers launching BFF Indy, accessible event ideas, local partnerships and plans to grow across Indiana.

On today's show I sat down with Quynh Nguyen, owner and general manager of Q's Wine Bar, a modern self-pour wine bar in Carmel's Village of West Clay. Q's Wine Bar was designed to make wine approachable through curated 2, 4, and 6‑ounce pours using dispenser technology. Nguyen shares her background as a competitive golfer who captained a boys high school team, earned the Evans Scholars caddie scholarship to Purdue, and became an engineer at Boston Scientific. She explains how IU Kelley's evening MBA (hybrid format with core and elective courses, plus a capstone consulting project in Santiago, Chile) gave her the confidence and foundation to pursue entrepreneurship. Inspired by dispenser-based wine bars in France, she secured a five‑year lease in Carmel, developed a detailed business plan, used Indiana Small Business Development Center guidance, obtained an SBA-backed loan, managed a year-long buildout, and balanced the venture with her full-time job. She discusses staffing challenges, permits, food and wine sourcing, plans for wine-based cocktails in 2026, golf recommendations, and why supporting small businesses matters. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Quynh Nguyen's Background as a Golfer and Evans Scholarship Recipient - How IU Kelley's Evening MBA Led Quynh to Entrepreneurship - The Inspiration Behind Q's Wine Bar Thank you to our partners: Duke Homes Greek's Pizzeria Check out these great clips from the show: 01:21 Guest Introduction: Quynh Nguyen, Q's Wine Bar 02:12 First Podcast and Origins 02:45 Trailblazing Golf Story 03:42 Evans Scholarship Path 04:42 Purdue Life and Evans House 06:44 Boston Scientific to Indy 08:23 Why an MBA 10:22 Kelly Evening MBA Format 12:54 MBA Classes and Chile Capstone 15:51 France Trip Sparks Wine Bar 17:39 Landing West Clay Lease 19:23 From Idea to Buildout 22:32 Financing and SBA Loans 24:31 MBA Help on Due Diligence 25:08 Business Plan Reality Check 25:32 Buildout Timeline and Rent 26:23 Balancing Job and Startup 27:26 Permits Milestones and Budget 28:28 Soft Opening Prep Checklist 29:06 Training and Team Culture 29:43 Designing the Wine Bar Vibe 30:44 First Real Customers and No TVs 32:28 Food and Wine Sourcing 34:47 Hardest Parts Hiring and Time 37:16 MBA Lessons and 2026 Plans 38:44 Wine Inspiration and Indiana Vibes 41:18 Golf Talk Indiana Courses 42:45 Support Small Business 44:00 Why Indiana Feels Like Home 45:06 Rapid Fire and Final Advice Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

Jennifer Magley, Chief Brand Officer of The Basketball League and former Division I tennis star, rose to #1 nationally before an ankle injury changed her path. She recounts IMG Academy and UF highlights, going pro, coaching at 23, viral yearlong stunts to land big stages, her 100 Stages quest, emceeing the Excel World Championship, and building community-driven pro basketball partnerships.

Stacee Alexander, former indie pro wrestler known as Space Cowboy turned Man-Nana with the Savannah Bananas, shares his path from show choir to the road. He talks about grueling wrestling training, injury and burnout, then a chance dinner that led to joining Banana Ball. He describes the Man-Nana role, viral crowd moments, choreography experiments, Jesse Cole’s test-and-learn culture, and touring life with the Clowns.

On today's show I sat down with content creator and rapper Corey Tibbs Jr., professionally known as CeeJay2Kold and 2Kold, founder of the dating series Pop the Balloon. 2Kold began creating and posting dance videos online as a kid, and grew up primarily in Haughville on Indianapolis' near west side. His life changed when he was shot in the face at 19, spent three days in a coma and roughly 30 days in the hospital. He explains how he transitioned from reaction videos to more structured creation by investing in camera equipment, studying specs and tutorials, taking courses, and learning from local videographers, moves that paid off when he achieved YouTube monetization. 2Kold details how Pop the Balloon started, with initial filming at the media hub and event space Midwest League in Indianapolis. The unscripted show features contestants who present their name, age, and job, and balloons are popped if someone isn't interested, followed by an explanation. 2Kold outlines a major 2026 tour running February through June starting in Washington, D.C., with nearly 25 additional stops in major cities across the country. Looking ahead, he announces a new competitive reality series concept called QOTC: Queens of the City, focused on business-minded women and brand development with structured auditions and challenges such as creating business plans. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - 2Kold's Journey as a Content Creator - The Dating Show Pop the Balloon - Queens of the City Reality Series Thank you to our partners: Hoosier Lottery Huse Culinary Check out these great clips from the show: 01:38 Guest Introduction: 2Kold, Pop the Balloon 02:48 Dancing, MySpace, and First YouTube Uploads 03:44 Growing Up in Haughville 06:48 Getting Shot at 19 and the Recovery 08:47 Leveling Up as a Creator 13:16 YouTube Reactions Take Off 15:53 Two-Year Plan & Family Pressure 17:53 Monetization, Hustling, and Building a Business 22:10 What Is Pop the Balloon? 24:27 Launching the First Live Episode 28:42 Welcoming Contestants & the 'pop' Psychology 30:12 Turning Pop the Balloon Into a Business 31:51 Why It's So Bingeable 34:04 Tickets, Audience Participation & Sudden Popularity 35:05 Casting, Sponsors, Org Collabs & Niche Episodes 37:20 Balancing Family Life with Nonstop Production 38:25 2026 Tour Game Plan 40:36 'Queens of the City' Reality Series 46:40 Creator Advice 49:50 Memorable Matches & Favorite Creators 53:07 Hidden Gems and Why Indiana is Home Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

Gabriel Brown, a 10-year-old swim phenom from Greenfield, Indiana and the No. 1 ranked 10-year-old in the U.S., describes his intense routine and why he skips early mornings. He talks training details like two-hour practices and dryland workouts, his breakthrough moments and record chase, goals from National Age Group marks to Olympic Trials, and how he balances school, food rituals, and everyday kid life.

On today's show I sat down with my colleague Cheyne Reiter to discuss top headlines, Indiana events, Hoosier spring break staycation ideas, and more. We open with what we learned about Indiana this week, including an aerospace company in Upland building satellite equipment that flies on SpaceX rockets and the IHSAA high school wrestling tournament format. Next, we cover Junior Achievement's 2026 Indy's Best and Brightest finalists, where I was named one of 10 finalists in the Media, Entertainment, and Sports category. The ceremony is set for April 22 at Fishers Event Center. We then break down two major distribution centers creating job opportunities: Sweetwater's $36.7M Fort Wayne expansion adding 300 jobs and a $125M John Deere distribution center project near Lowell/Hebron projected to create 150 jobs at the minimum. Other headlines include South Bend International Airport setting a record with over 1.1M ticketed passengers in 2025, IU Athletics announcing plans for a Bob Knight statue in Assembly Hall, and preview of the NFL Flag Championships coming to Grand Park. We also discuss upcoming Indiana events before closing with Indiana spring break staycation ideas and a game where I quiz Cheyne on three ag production categories in which Indiana ranks No. 1 in the country. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference or discuss trending topics in Indiana, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - The 2026 Junior Achievement Indy's Best & Brightest Finalists - Sweetwater's Expansion in Fort Wayne - John Deere's New Distribution Center - IU Athletics to Install Bob Knight Statue - NFL Flag Championships Coming to Grand Park Check out these great clips from the show: 01:34 What We Learned This Week: Indiana Satellites & Space Tech in Upland 02:55 Cheyne's Wrestling Take: The Case for Wrestlebacks 03:36 Junior Achievement 'Best & Brightest' Finalists 06:59 Sweetwater's $36.7M Expansion in Fort Wayne 08:26 John Deere's Massive Hebron/Lowell Distribution Center Investment 10:52 South Bend International Airport Hits Record 12:54 Bob Knight Statue Coming to Assembly Hall 16:25 NFL Flag Championships at Grand Park 19:35 How Olympic Flag Football Works 20:26 Drafting the Ultimate Team USA Flag Football Roster 21:23 The Georgia Flag Football Dream 23:17 Pros vs. Flag Football Purists 24:09 Indiana Events: State Wrestling, WWE Raw, Phil Collins, and Cardi B 27:38 NFL Combine in Indianapolis: Free Fan Experience 30:30 Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Ag Trivia 33:53 Hoosier Spring Break Staycations: Best Hikes 36:08 Downtown Indy & Themed Day Trips Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

On today's show I sat down with Joe Curtis, the first franchisee in ClusterTruck history, and Janet Monroe, ClusterTruck's CEO, to talk about the company's new franchising chapter and the launch of ClusterTruck Carmel in February 2026. ClusterTruck is an Indianapolis-born delivery and pickup kitchen with made-to-order meals and proprietary software designed to get food delivered hot, fresh, and on time. Monroe explains that it took nearly a decade to build and refine both the software and kitchen operations, creating a profitable model in food delivery. Curtis shares his path from a 30+ year career in electrical engineering to residential real estate, with essentially no food background beyond working at McDonald's as a teenager. He became a loyal ClusterTruck customer during renovations and pursued franchising as an investment. Our conversation covers how ClusterTruck documents operations in a "kitchen back office," uses training videos, standardizes plating and order accuracy, and emphasizes culture, customer service, and community involvement. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Why ClusterTruck Is Launching Franchising - How the Smart Kitchen Model Works - What it Takes to Open a ClusterTruck Franchise Check out these great clips from the show: 00:26 Guest Introduction: Joe Curtis & Janet Monroe, ClusterTruck 02:02 Why Franchise Now? 03:20 Why Carmel 04:11 Joe's Background 06:56 From Customer to Investor 09:42 Training in the Kitchen 11:21 Building the Franchise Playbook 16:44 Culture + Quality Control 17:50 Opening the Carmel Kitchen 22:02 Why Joe's the Right Franchisee 27:21 Joe's Indiana Journey 34:00 Choosing US-31 for Demand 34:41 Supper vs. Dinner 35:12 Where ClusterTruck Wants to Expand Next 36:07 A Detour into Regenerative Farming 38:16 Who Should Franchise ClusterTruck? 41:54 The Playbook for Training, Standards & Customer Service 43:07 What's Included in Opening Costs 47:33 Why They Call Indiana Home 51:39 Rapid Fire Questions 56:40 Best Restaurant Experiences Around Indiana 01:01:50 Hidden Gems in Indiana & Hoosier to Watch Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.